Housing authority board members question calculus
They help some of Southern Nevada‘s most needy, but now it appears employees at the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority might soon need some help of their own.
The agency‘s confidential "Path to Agency Sustainability" report warns of a $1.8 million projected shortfall in fiscal year 2016 and makes the case for the elimination of at least 45 positions and the privatization of management at four housing authority developments with a total of 421 units. The report is surfacing at a time housing authority officials are in contract negotiations with the Service Employees International Union, which represents many of the agency‘s 236 workers.
The affected developments include Rose Gardens, Simmons Manor, Espinoza Terrace and Sherman Gardens/Villa Capri. The complexes are projected to lose approximately $790,000 in the coming year, according to the report. Sherman Gardens is set to lose the most, $236,500. Most of the employees whose jobs are in jeopardy work on site and help keep the aging units functioning for residents who are among the poorest in Clark County.
With annual salaries in the $30,000 range, the workers don‘t exactly peg the pay meter. And they continue to endure forced furloughs that other government-funded entities quit months ago. The report dutifully notes their salaries and benefits and projected red ink.
From the study: "The remaining staff of these four (4) developments will be merging into the management of the remaining 2,349 units. It is critical to remember that outsourcing is not abdication of management responsibility, or a knee-jerk reaction to the current financial situation, but rather an effort to sustain a balanced budget."
The report is resplendent with color charts and photographs. It‘s clear a great deal of attention has been paid in its preparation.
But some housing authority board members I‘ve spoken with say the numbers don‘t add up. They accuse SNRHA Executive Director John Hill of overstating the projected losses. Some also accuse him of insensitivity in the job place and failing to maintain a professional work place.
They also lament the authority‘s rising legal bills. Of the more than two dozen areas listed in the table of contents, no breakout for legal fees was named. In the section on staff recommendations, "Develop ways to reduce legal costs" was noted.
It‘s clear housing authority officials, in the face of what they are calling shrinking federal dollars, are motivated to outsource management of four developments. Very motivated.
"Implementing this plan will eliminate the shortfall, eliminate the need for furloughs, improve efficiency, increase staff morale and ensure an improved quality customer care," Hill writes in the report.
Not according to housing authority insiders I‘ve spoken with. They say that although deficit projections are common, on paper the authority has ended recent years with surplus funds. It makes them wonder why Hill appears so motivated to cut employees and focus on downsizing the agency‘s reach at a time he‘s also asking for more funds to upgrade its computer system.
If those expendable workers were hoping for some sympathy from the bosses, it‘s unclear how much they‘re going to find. The section set aside for preparing for staff reductions includes handy tips on getting the firing done smoothly. They include, providing a "Private meeting place," "Speak softly and with genuine concern," "Have tissue in the room," "Be respectful and respect the questions" and have answers to common concerns ready.
The housing authority board is scheduled to meet today; the sustainability study figures to be a hot item.
If the new plan is put in place, some loyal workers just might wind up needing the services provided by the housing authority.
John L. Smith’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Reach him at 702 383-0295, or jsmith@reviewjournal.com. He tweets at @jlnevadasmith.
